# How to add lower thirds to a video

Canonical URL: https://getvidiyo.app/blog/add-lower-thirds-to-video
Last updated: 2026-10-08
Author: Ajay Pawriya (https://getvidiyo.app/about)
Published: 2026-10-08
Category: Motion and audio

> TL;DR: A lower third is a name and role shown in the bottom part of the frame when someone first appears. Put it on its own layer, keep it to two short lines, animate it in and out, and hold it long enough to read twice. In Vidiyo, ask for one and it lands on the words where you introduce yourself.

Lower thirds are the simplest motion graphic most videos need, and the one most often done badly: text too small, gone too fast, or sitting under the platform's buttons. Getting it right is mostly about placement and timing. The animation matters less than people think.

## What is a lower third?

A lower third is a small graphic in the lower part of the frame that tells viewers who is speaking: a name, and usually a role, company or handle. It appears when the person is first introduced, stays long enough to read, then leaves. The name comes from the part of the screen it occupies. See the [lower third glossary entry](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/lower-third) for a short definition.

Use one when the viewer doesn't already know the speaker: interviews, podcasts, product demos with a guest, founder videos on a new channel. Skip it when it is your own channel and your face is the brand.

## How do I add a lower third in any editor?

Put the name and role on a text layer above your video, add a background shape if the footage is busy, animate it in and out, and time it to when the person is introduced. Any editor with text layers and keyframes can do this.

1. Find the moment the person starts speaking or is introduced.
2. Add a text layer with the name on the first line and the role on the second.
3. Add a shape behind it (a bar, a pill or a card) if the background is busy or bright.
4. Position it in the lower third of the frame, aligned with a margin from the left edge.
5. Add an entrance: a slide from the left, a fade or a short scale up. Add a matching exit.
6. Hold it fully visible long enough to read twice, then let it leave.
7. Play it back at phone size and check it against the platform's interface.

## Where should a lower third go on screen?

Bottom left, inside the safe area, and clear of anything the platform draws on top. In landscape video that means a margin from the bottom and left edges. In vertical video it means noticeably higher, because captions, buttons and the account name cover the bottom of the frame.

| Format | Where to place it | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 16:9 (YouTube, LinkedIn) | Lower left, with a margin from the edges | Overlapping your burned-in captions |
| 9:16 (Reels, TikTok, Shorts) | Above the bottom interface band, left aligned | The like and share column on the right, the caption area at the bottom |
| 1:1 (feeds) | Lower left, slightly higher than in 16:9 | Covering the speaker's chin or hands |

If you also have captions, decide which one owns the bottom of the frame. Usually captions sit just below the face and the lower third goes under them, or the lower third appears before captions begin. The [safe zone checker](https://getvidiyo.app/tools/safe-zone-checker) shows the interface areas for each platform.

## How long should a lower third stay on screen?

Long enough to read it twice at normal speed. In Vidiyo's motion runtime, the minimum hold for settled text is 0.4 seconds plus 0.2 seconds per word, counted after the entrance finishes. That is a floor, not a target. A name and role usually reads comfortably with a bit more time than that.

Keep the entrance short and the exit shorter. A long, showy animation delays the information people actually want. Two lines, high contrast, and a font weight that survives compression matter more than any motion.

## How do I add a lower third in Vidiyo?

Ask for it in chat, and the assistant places an animated lower third on its own layer, anchored to the words where you introduce yourself. Because the timing follows the transcript, trimming the video earlier doesn't knock it out of place.

Things you can type:

- "Add a lower third with my name and 'Founder, Acme' when I introduce myself."
- "Make it a cleaner style, less bouncy."
- "Move the lower third above the captions."

There are 11 lower-third templates, including:

| Template | Look |
|---|---|
| Clean bar | Name and role slide out of an accent bar; the plainest option |
| Soft pill | A rounded pill unrolls around the name; friendly |
| Kicker name | A small tag, then a big uppercase name on a drawn baseline; editorial |
| Mask reveal | An accent blade wipes the name on and off; cinematic |
| Side rule | A vertical rule draws down beside a serif name; calm |
| Dark card | A dark card with an initials avatar; polished |

The others are stacked bars, a bold block, a colour block, an accent underline and a glowing border. Each one reads your project's brand colours and fonts, so it matches your captions and titles. Once placed, select it on the timeline and edit the name, role, colours, timing and beats in the inspector.

You can also build one by hand. Press **T** on the preview to add a text layer and choose the Label style in the inspector, then press **R** for a rectangle and pick the Pill style behind it. Add In and Out presets (fade, slide, pop, zoom or shrink) from **Animate**. Presets write ordinary keyframes, so you can adjust them like any others. In vertical projects, motion templates keep their layout bands clear of the Reels, TikTok and Shorts interface.

## Should I use one lower third or several in a video?

One per person, the first time they appear. If a speaker comes back after a long gap, or the video is long enough that people may join partway, show it again at their next appearance. Interviews with two guests get one each, in the same style and position.

Lower thirds can also label other things: a location, a product name, a source for a statistic. Keep those visually different from name labels (a smaller size or a different accent) so viewers don't mistake a place for a person.

## What makes a lower third look professional?

Restraint and consistency. Use the same style, position and timing for every speaker in a video, and ideally across your channel. Match the font to your titles and the colour to your brand. Keep it to two lines: name, then role. Drop the logo unless it is the point.

The mistakes that make lower thirds look cheap are easy to spot once you look for them: drop shadows on everything, three different fonts, a role line longer than the name, and an exit that happens mid-sentence. If your brand is set up once, consistency comes for free. See [keeping a consistent brand look across videos](https://getvidiyo.app/blog/consistent-brand-look-across-videos).

## Honest limits

- Lower third templates are placed by the assistant; there is no template gallery tab.
- Vidiyo exports at 1080p/30, and timelines max out at 5 minutes.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a lower third in video?

A lower third is a graphic in the bottom part of the frame that names the person speaking, usually with their role or company. It appears when they first speak and leaves after a few seconds.

### How long should a lower third stay on screen?

Long enough to read it twice. Vidiyo's motion runtime uses 0.4 seconds plus 0.2 seconds a word as the minimum hold for settled text, so a six-word name and role needs at least 1.6 seconds after it finishes animating in. Most editors hold it longer.

### Where should a lower third go in a vertical video?

Higher than in a landscape video. Reels, TikTok and Shorts put captions and buttons over the bottom of the frame, so place the lower third above that area. Check it with a safe zone overlay.

### Does Vidiyo have lower third templates?

Yes. The assistant can place any of 11 animated lower thirds, from a plain accent bar to a neon frame, and anchor it to the words where you introduce yourself. You edit the name, role, colours and timing in the inspector.

## Related

- [Lower third](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/lower-third)
- [Motion graphics without After Effects](https://getvidiyo.app/features/motion-graphics)
- [Layers and keyframes, by hand or by chat](https://getvidiyo.app/features/layers-and-keyframes)
- [How to make motion graphics without After Effects](https://getvidiyo.app/blog/motion-graphics-without-after-effects)
- [How to keep a consistent brand look across videos](https://getvidiyo.app/blog/consistent-brand-look-across-videos)
- [Free safe zone checker for Reels, TikTok and Shorts](https://getvidiyo.app/tools/safe-zone-checker)

Download Vidiyo for Mac (free during the beta): https://getvidiyo.app/download